Book your licence test on the phone or on-line

Driver licensing practical
tests can now be booked and paid for by telephone and over
the internet.

"The improved booking system will be a real
benefit to drivers who have previously had to travel some
distance to book a test with an agent, especially people
living in rural areas. It will also make it easier for
those who wish to avoid driving in heavy traffic at busy
times of day to get to their local driver licensing agent,"
said Director of Land Transport Safety David Wright.

Some transactions, like converting an
overseas driver licence to a New Zealand driver licence and
booking tests for licence endorsements will still have to be
carried out in person at driver licensing agents. There will
be no change to LTSA driver licensing agent services, and
people will still be able to book their practical test in
person through an agent.

Questions and answers on the
LTSA's telephone and internet booking services are available
from www.ltsa.govt.nz. To book a licence test, ring 0800 822
422 or visit www.ltsatransact.govt.nz

Where can I find these
services?Call 0800 822 422, or visit
www.ltsatransact.govt.nzWhat driving tests can I book
through the phone and online, and what ones can’t I
book?You can book the following types of tests by phone
or online:- Restricted licence tests (car and
motorcycle).- Full licence tests (car, motorcycle and
heavy vehicles).- Older driver licence tests (for
drivers aged 80, 82, 84, etc).

You can’t book the
following types of tests by phone or online and will need to
go to an LTSA Agent:- changing from an overseas driver
licence for a New Zealand driver licence- tests for
passenger (P), vehicle recovery (V), driving instructor (I)
or testing officer (O) licence endorsements.If you’re
booking a learner licence theory test, you’ll need to visit
an LTSA Driver Licensing Agent directly to make a
time.

Why can’t I book the above tests online or over the
phone?

An LTSA Driver Licensing Agent needs to view
certain material (eg, your existing overseas driver licence)
before you can book your driver licence test. Also, in some
cases you may not need to sit a practical test, and the
Agent can confirm this for you.

How long will it take to
book my test online or over the phone?

The internet
service has a simple step by step process, which takes most
people 5-8 minutes to complete. Booking through the phone
service should take around the same amount of time.

What
if I book a test and confirmation doesn’t come through
before I’m due to sit the test?

You’ll get a confirmation
slip immediately when you book online. When booking by
phone, you’ll be given all the details for your test. Make
sure you keep a record of these and take the details with
you to your test if your confirmations slip hasn’t arrived
in the post in time. Even if your confirmation slip hasn’t
arrived, your test is still valid, so make sure you show up
in time, or you will still be charged for the test.

Can
someone else book and pay for the test on my behalf?

In
theory, if they have your driver licence, address, and
credit card details, then they can. But we strongly
discourage you from sharing these details with anyone. If
you use someone else’s credit card to pay for the fees (eg,
if you’re too young to hold a credit card but your parents
have one), make sure you get permission first.

What
information do I need to book over the phone or on the
internet?

You need your current driver licence and a
current Visa or Mastercard.

Will the telephone service go
through to our local agent, or will it go to a central call
centre?

It will go to the LTSA’s central call centre who
will book you a test in your local area.

Why can’t we just
call an LTSA Driver Licensing Agent direct to book the
test?

Agents would have to employ additional people to
answer telephones so that the counter service is not
interrupted by telephone calls. This is not viable for many
Agents because of their size.

Who are the LTSA’s Driver
Licensing Agents?

- Automobile Association (AA) -
Vehicle Testing New Zealand (VTNZ) - Vehicle Inspection
New Zealand (VINZ) - On Road New Zealand. Will it be
cheaper to use the internet or phone service – if not, why
not?No, it won’t be cheaper. The charges for tests are
set by regulation, not by the Land Transport Safety
Authority.

What do I need to take with me test on the day
of the test?

On the day of your test, you need to take the
following with you:- two forms of identification (your
New Zealand driver licence, and something else with proof of
address)- your current licence – eg, learner,
restricted, or for older drivers, your full licence -
certificates for any approved courses that you’ve completed
– eg defensive driving course- a vehicle that is in a
roadworthy condition and that has a current warrant of
fitness or certificate of fitness- a medical or eyesight
certificate if these are relevant to you.

What will the
process be when I arrive for my test?

You’ll be asked to
fill out an application form, and your photo and signature
will be taken. NOTE: You should allow approximately 30
minutes before your test appointment to complete the
application process before you can take your test. If your
test appointment is before 9.00am you should check the
Driver Licensing Agent's opening hours, because you may need
to complete the application process before the day of your
test.

Can I do my practical test booking any day/time
prior to my test?

Yes you can. The internet booking
system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The
phone booking service operates Monday to Friday
8am-6pm.

Security

How will I know my details are
secure?

PricewaterhouseCoopers’ computer auditors
conducted thorough security penetration tests into the
website in an attempt to obtain personal information from
transactions and hack into LTSA systems. No breaches in
security were found.

Also, when you use the internet or
phone test booking services, your personal details and
credit card details are kept separate. Your credit card
details are not stored by the LTSA, because your credit card
payment is carried out on a separate secure bank site.

If
someone stole my driver licence, would they be able to
access my details through the phone or internet
services?

No. We do not pass any personal details back to
the internet or phone applicant. LTSA does confirm that the
details given to us are correct. The user would have to
know these details already.

What’s to stop someone
stealing my credit card and using it to pay for their test
online or over the phone?

If someone used a stolen credit
card, they’d most likely be paying for their own test, so we
would have a clear record of exactly who had used your
credit card, and would have their name and address on our
system. If you do lose your credit card, notify your bank
immediately so that they can cancel your credit card to
prevent any unauthorised expenses being charged against it –
the system recognises and will not accept cancelled credit
cards.

General

What are the benefits of the telephone
and Internet booking services?

The new services will save
you having to make two trips to a Driver Licensing Agent –
one to book your test and the other to sit your test. Older
drivers and drivers in rural areas (and those who don’t want
to negotiate traffic and have the hassle of finding
carparks) will benefit most.

Will there be any more LTSA
services going online?

Yes. The next transactions to be
introduced are applying for exemption from relicensing a
vehicle, and advising us that you’ve either bought or sold a
motor vehicle.

Will we eventually be able to apply for
driver licences online or over the phone?

No, not with
current technology. We need to be able to confirm your
identity, take your photo, and do an eye test before you can
receive a NZ driver licence.

Why are the services only
accessible to credit card users – why can’t I pay by
cheque?

This is a real-time transaction and payment has to
be cleared before your test is confirmed. If you wanted to
pay by cheque, it would be quicker to go to a Driver
Licensing Agent.

Why do the systems only accept
Mastercard and Visa?

Theses are the only two BANK issued
credit cards (as distinct from debit cards and loyalty
cards).

Why can’t I use my credit card at an LTSA Driver
Licensing Agent?

Every Driver Licensing Agent makes its
own policy decision as to whether they will accept credit
card payments, because it costs the Agent credit card
merchant fees to run this service. But some Agents do accept
credit cards, so check with your Agent first.

Driver
Licensing Agent services

Won’t it put LTSA Driver
Licensing Agents out of business?

No. For security and
identity reasons, Driver Licensing Agents will still be
needed to confirm the identity of people applying for
licences, and take photos and signatures.

Also, younger
drivers may not have a credit card, similarly some adults
choose not to use them. And not everyone has regular and
reliable access to the internet yet. These people will still
need to use Agents.

This online and telephone services are
simply an alternative way to book driver licence tests. It
is not the intention to replace the vital service that LTSA
Driver Licensing Agents offer to those people who need
face-to-face contact.Will I still be able to go to a
local LTSA Driver Licensing Agent if I don’t want to use the
internet?Yes, you will.

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